With the best, thats a good bit of PR, though I would say the Bedford team, theres, like, you know, 13 blokes who can get together at the weekend to have a game together, which doesnt point to expansion of the game. Point, yeah go on!

I know but with players like Hardaker also likely to be in the squad I don't see the point in picking a 29 year old winger who's never looked international class.I'd rather see someone like Dixon from London in there.

"surely they've got to try somthing different now, maybe the little chip over the top?2

Apart from Cockayne's inclusion most names are to be expected- barring injury Ryan Atkins' World Cup hopes appear to be over as he gets omitted for the second time. Danny Brough though does have the fall back option of Scotland (if he is still eligible). Jonny Lomax, Greg Eden and Keiran Dixon have not yet forced their way into the squad. As Rhys Evans does not even appear on the radar, I hope that someone will talk him into making himself available for the Welsh World Cup campaign.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats winger Ben Cockayne has been called up to England Rugby League’s 30-man Elite Training Squad as the national team starts its preparations in World Cup year.

Cockayne, 29, has been the standout winger during the early part of the 2013 Super League season scoring six tries in the Wildcats’ opening five league fixtures.

The former Hull KR and Featherstone Rovers back is the only new inclusion, with England Coach Steve McNamara keeping faith with the majority of players that led England to tournament victory last autumn against France and Wales.

The squad will meet up at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire over the weekend of March 16 and there will be a further four camps throughout this year including high altitude training in Potchefstroom, South Africa at the end of the domestic season.

“We have been impressed with Ben’s (Cockayne) all-round form in Super League over a sustained period of time and he deserves his call up to the ETS,” said McNamara, who has been tracking Cockayne’s progress over the past 18 months.

“The coaches and established players look forward to welcoming him into the group at our first camp later this month. We hope he can build on his selection and continue his progress as a top class Rugby League player.”

“It is an honour to be selected,” said Cockayne, on becoming the first ever Wakefield player to be selected in the ETS squad since it was established two years ago.

“This is hopefully the first step to possibly playing for my country. To be recognised amongst the elite of English Rugby League is my biggest honour to date and I can’t wait to meet up with the rest of the England boys in the next couple of weeks.”

Super League reigning champions Leeds Rhinos have the most players in the squad with eight representatives, Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves both have six and there are a further six clubs represented from the Super League across the squad.

“The players are fully aware of the importance of this year,” added McNamara. “Every opportunity we have together will be vital in honing our preparations to make a real impact on the Rugby League World Cup in the autumn.

“We have every confidence in the group, along with our Australian based players, to be competitive against the best teams in the world. We are leaving nothing to chance and our training programme will add variety and the attention to detail our elite players deserve.”

Furthermore, McNamara has invited Bradford Bulls John Bateman, Rhinos Stevie Ward and Warrington’s Ben Currie to the first camp giving the former England Academy trio the opportunity to experiencing training at the elite level.

“The main focus naturally will be about the Rugby League World Cup, but we have a responsibility to ensure the future stars of the game are prepared and ready for international tournaments after 2013 and the World Cup in 2017,” McNamara said.

“That’s the reason why Ben (Currie), John (Bateman) and Stevie (Ward) have been invited to the first camp. They are part of England’s future and opportunities like this will benefit the lads in their Rugby League development.”

England will start their 2013 campaign with the International Origin match against the Exiles on Friday June 14 at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington and will take on France in a warm-up game before the Rugby League World Cup gets underway on Saturday October 26, when England take on Australia at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

Tickets for the International Origin game against the Exiles can be purchased at with a £5 discount, meaning £20 tickets can be purchased by £15, until Tuesday March 12 by calling the RFL Ticket Office on 0844 856 1113 or visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk and quoting the discount code ENG01

He's had a good start to the year but better than Hall, Briscoe and Charnley? Poor pick IMO.

I think it sends out quite a good message to players in the squad and outside of it. He hasn't been picked for the team just yet but it says to all the players that form will be rewarded which seems to be a good message to preach.

"At times to be silent is to lie. You will win because you have enough brute force. But you will not convince. For to convince you need to persuade. And in order to persuade you would need what you lack: Reason and Right."

Writing from the perspective of one with no club affiliation, I'm left disappointed with this squad. The identification and selection of talent are the most important things for any international coach and I remain unconvinced that McNamara is on the right track.

The Leeds and Roosters version of Adrian Morley was one of the most fearless forwards in the world but - unlike, say, Jamie Peacock - even at his best he is simply nowhere near the player he once was. Jon Wilkin, on the other hand, has been an important player for Saints over the years but will never come close to making the kind of impact that will frighten the best international defences.

Tom Lineham's performances for Hull are already at a very high level - and his potential is even greater. I haven't seen a right wing this season to match him - including the current England first choice, Josh Charnley who appears to have been treated like a rag doll by Castleford's Carney just the other day. The non-selection of Danny Brough makes puzzles me as to why McNamara bothered to encourage him to switch his allegiance from Scotland to England...? Richie Myler has been playing better than ever, but Brough, for me, is a superior all-round talent with a wider array of passing and kicking skills allied to a genuine game-breaking running ability.

Having said that, Brough's performance v the Exiles last season was, along with his team mates, utterly dreadful...

No real surprises there for me barring the Cockayne inclusion. I'm pleased that Atkins is still out of the squad as the number of times he was skinned by Kallum Watkins last year was embarassing. Still not a fan of Rangi Chase but he's a McBannana favourite. Brough is not good enough. He's the sort of player who looks good when you're 20 points in front and spits his dummy out far far too often.

I think it sends out quite a good message to players in the squad and outside of it. He hasn't been picked for the team just yet but it says to all the players that form will be rewarded which seems to be a good message to preach.

Quite agree with your last sentence but the reality is that it will mea nothing, the message I mean. MacNamara is blinkered and whether or not his favourites are playing to top form or NOT he will find a reason to include them, not simply in the squad but the team he fields also, wanna bet?